Motion-picture projector



H. C. WELLMAN MOTION PICTURE PROJECTOR Filed June 21, 1927 INVENTOR, Howcmf e TTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 4, 19.28.

UNITED STATES 1,694,110 PATENToFI-ica A HOWARD C. WELLMAN, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW`YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

MOTION -PICTURE PROJECTOR.

Application led June 21,

This invention relates to a motion picture projector and particularly to such an apparatus having means for automatically guiding and threading a film through the machine. This invention is, specifically, an improvement over the structures shown and genericallyl claimed in the application of Stuber and Underwood, Serial No. 73,119 and in my copending application, Serial No. 73,121, both lo tiled December 4, 1925. In using such a machine, it is sometimes desirable to remove a partially projected film. In accordance with the present invention, all the elements of the self threading device are interconnected for simultaneous adjustment, and such elements and their interconnections are all so situated that no obstacle is presented to the removal or insertion of a loop of film sidewise into the projecting path.

Further objects and advantages of my invent-ion will appear from the following description thereof, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in the several figures of which the same reference characters denote the same parts and in whichf- Fig. l is a side elevation of a projector embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is an elevation from the other side. much of the mechanism being removed,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectionincluding the gate.

The apparatus in the form shown comprises a base 1 and a longitudinal wall or frame 3, to which is pivoted at 4 and 5, arms 6 and 7 for supporting reels, one reel shaft being shown at 8.

The wall or partition 3 carries a casing 11 about which the film may be looped, being propelled continuously from one reel to the other by sprocket 12 and being intermittently advanced past the film gate by any suitable mechanism, not shown. The gate is constituted by the curved front wall 13 of the casing 11 and a curved presser member 16, the latter having at its lower end an inclined extension and at its upper end an inclined arm 17 with a slot 18 having a sliding pivotal engagement with pin 25 on wall 3, and pressed by spring 26 toward the wall' 13. An objective mount .27 is also shown, this being in alignment with the windows 29 in the gate members. Near sprocket 12 are two trunnions 38 and 39 on which are pivoted two guide members pressed by springs 19 and 20 toward the sprocket 12, being fur- `are.pivoted the ends of levers 56 and 57,

' threading. The film end is then introduced 1927. seria1No.2oo,455.

ther held in this position by releasable latches 2l. These guide members 40 have edge flanges 22 between which are fixed guide members 42 outside of theV sprocket and others 45 between the sprocket andthe casn ing 11.

Pivoted on trunnion 39 is a film guiding and threading member 43, and pivoted on a Vlower trunnion 23 is a second film guiding and threading member 44. These guide memif bers 43 and 44 have guard flanges 28 along their edges. The ends 45 and 46 of these members have paths of movements engaging the inclined ends 17 and 30 of the presser 16` and are adapted to cam this out as described 7" in the applications referred to. The frame 3 has rearwardly extending flanges 50 forming a compartment 51 for mechanism not shown, part of the lamphouse compartment 52 and a motor and fan com- 75 partment 53. The members 43 and 44 have pins 54 extending through slots 55 in the frame 2 into the last named compartments which are connected as shown. To these pins which, at their other ends,are pivoted to an operating dise 58 carried on a shaft 59 extending through frame 2 and operated by a handle 60.

I Other structural features which are shown but are not important to the present invention are, rewind control latch 70, condenser 'lens 61, control switches 62 and 63, ventilating aperture 64, and a control 65 for stopping the mechanism to project. stills. The top 66 of casing 11 is held in place by latch 67, and 68 indicates anadjusting control for the mechanism.

In operation, the guide members 40 are usually not moved as they serve to guide the film in threading and to hold it on the sprocket during projection. The user, finding the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, turns handle 60 to the position marked Thread whereupon the guide members 43 and 4 4 are simultaneously moved from the full line position to dotted line position, at the Sametime camming out the presser member and thereby putting it in the' position for automatic m5 between upper guides 42 and 40 and is automatically threaded through the projector emerging between lower guides 42 and 40 `as is fully described in said copending applications. The/control handleO is thereupon llo guiding and automatical 'end of a film through the pro'ector and com-v turned Vto the position marked Run, restoring the members 16, 43 and 44 totheir original positions.

Should the operator desire, when the film is partly projected, to remove it from the machine, he swings the guide members 40 to their full line ositions. The film can now be removed e Gewiss from the ro'ector throughout its path, since the presser 16 clers no obstacle to such removal, and it can then be rapidly wound on one of the reels in much less time than it `would take to run it through L the projector. The arrangement is also advantageous if only a short part or scene in the middle of a roll is to be projected since it can be unwound rapidly directly from onev reel to' the other until the desired portion is reached and this can then be inserted edge-y wise into the projector. Y

It will be .noted that walls of thercasing 11 constitute fixed guide members toward and from which the guides 43 and 44 move to form tunnels for the automatic threading of film or to leave open spaces and that applicant has combined the advan es of simultaneous operation of these ui es with the leaving open of the s aces or the edgewise insertion or removal o film.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as newv and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a motion picture rojector, means for y directing the lead prising a frame, series'of gui e members carried on the front of the frame and comprising a casing lixed on the frame and members outside of said casing and movable to and from saidcasing and forming tunnels for the purpose 4specified when near said casing, an when vseparated leaving spaces open away d dayof June, 1927.

from the frame, whereby film can be threaded between them n'an edgewise direction, and a unitary control for moving the members simultaneously, said control being on the inner sides of said members whereby lthe open side spaces will be left clear for the edge-` wise insertion or removalof film.

2. In a motion picture projector, a frame, xed guides on the front of the frame, guide members movable toward and from said fixed uides and forming therewith tunnels when 1n a position near the fixed guides, whereby film may be automatically threaded therethrough, and whenl moved from said fixed guides leaving spaces therebetween open in a direction lawa from the frame, a control handleremote rom the guides and connections from said handles to the movable guides said connections passing behind said guides and being attached to the rear thereof, whereby said spaces are left open for the edgewise insertion or removal of film. y

3. In a motion pictureprojector, a frame,- fixed guides on the front of said frame, guide members movable toward and from said fixed guides and forming therewith tunnels when 4n position near the fixed guides and, when moved from said ixed guides, leaving spaces therebetween open in a direction away from the frame, connections from said movable guides extending through said frame and along the rear of said frame to a point rcmote from said guides, a controlling handle positioned in front of said frame and connected to said connections at said remote point, whereby thesaid spaces are leftfree for the edgewise insertion or removal of filmbetween the uides.

Signed at Roc ester,

HOWARD C.W'ELLMAN.

New York, this 16 

